[Codo]

I still don`t understand the blame for the nine. It catters for Ax, Axx or Axxx.
This is as likely as Jx, Jxx or Jxxx in declarers hand.
So, if your partner leads more often from Jxxx then from Axxx, the 9 is obvious and not lazy at all.

And the 9 did not cost a trick yet, just try the underlead again.

[Jlall]

Codo, on Dec 8 2009, 03:44 AM, said:

I still don`t understand the blame for the nine. It catters for Ax, Axx or Axxx.
This is as likely as Jx, Jxx or Jxxx in declarers hand.
So, if your partner leads more often from Jxxx then from Axxx, the 9 is obvious and not lazy at all.

And the 9 did not cost a trick yet, just try the underlead again.

You don't always gain a trick by playing the 9 even if partner has the jack. They have a club pitch available on the diamond anyways. It MIGHT gain a trick, but it might not, however it will certainly gain a trick to play the queen when partner has the ace.

[Codo]

He will often need the discard on the diamond for his possible spade loser, and maybe you creat a second discard for a spade if you play your queen now.

[gnasher]

Codo, on Dec 8 2009, 10:20 AM, said:

He will often need the discard on the diamond for his possible spade loser, and maybe you creat a second discard for a spade if you play your queen now.

Given what's in dummy, it's quite likely that the spade loser will be thrown on ♦Q, either because declarer ruffs them good or because West is squeezed. That's not certain, especially if East remembers to duck when declarer plays a spade to the king, but it's another factor to consider at trick one.

[hanp]

sathyab, on Dec 7 2009, 03:40 PM, said:

aguahombre, on Dec 7 2009, 11:51 AM, said:

Suck it up and try another small club when in with the diamond Ace. No blame.

When I got in with the ♦A and cashed the ♣A, declarer Janet Jansma turns to me and says, "Good lead. Good idea too that you didn't try it a second time !"

Janet doesn't mean everything she says.

[Codo]

I guess this time she meant it was a good idea for her...

[pooltuna]

Codo, on Dec 8 2009, 03:44 AM, said:

I still don`t understand the blame for the nine. It catters for Ax, Axx or Axxx.
This is as likely as Jx, Jxx or Jxxx in declarers hand.
So, if your partner leads more often from Jxxx then from Axxx, the 9 is obvious and not lazy at all.

And the 9 did not cost a trick yet, just try the underlead again.

best response I have seen on this topic so far